GAME BIRDS OF INDIA AND ASIA. 153 



inches, the closed wing measuring nine and tlie tail 

 three, while the shank is nearly three, and very 

 strong. 



This species is confined to the Nicobars, and is a 

 very outlying member of its family, none being found 

 nearer than the Philippines and Celebes, while most 

 of them inhabit the Australian region. Its general 

 habits are those of a jungle-fowl ; it is found in pairs 

 or flocks, does not fly unless pressed, and readily 

 perches. Unlike jungle-fowl, however, it appears 

 to be a nocturnal bird. It has a caclding note, 

 and feeds both on small animal life and vegetable 

 food, being itself most delicious to eat, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Hume, who compares it to a fat turkey 

 and pheasant. 



The huge eggs, which are more than three inches 

 long, and pink when new-laid, are buried by the 

 birds in a mound of vegetable matter and sand, 

 which they scratch up in the jungle close to the shore. 

 There their responsibility ceases ; the eggs hatch 

 out by themselves in the mound, and the young 

 Gome out of the egg fledged and able to fly, work their 

 way to the upper air, arid go off on their own a,cq;bunt ; 

 they look not unlike dull-brown 'quails. 



In 1900 four of these birds were presented to the 

 Calcutta Zoological Garden by Colonel Anson, and 

 lived there for some time. These were hatched 

 from eggs which had been taken from a mound in 

 the Nicobars and brought up to the Andamans with- 

 out any attention at all, so that this species is hardy 

 eriough in the egg. The young birds were rea.red 

 on.iwhite ants, and were very tame when they came 

 td- Calcutta. 



